Inner peace can be hard to come by, no matter what loss we grieve. Looking at the stars helps me put things into perspective and takes me outside my small emotional orbit. There is something expansive about stargazing. I find comfort in the quiet nighttime sky, under the gaze of familiar and timeless constellations. Before working in mixed media, colored pencils were one of my primary mediums. There is a meditative quality to layering the colors to obtain the correct…
It may seem premature, but dreaming of spring can be uplifting. When I was deep in my grief, it comforted me to believe—despite the lack of evidence—that things would eventually improve. I know it’s true that even on a cold, windy, and ice-crusted day, the warmth of spring will eventually arrive. Much of my healing relied on faith and hope for better days. This belief acted as a lifeline in the turbulent waters of despair. Even now, I realize that…
I created this piece early in my period of acute grief after my husband’s death. It was winter; I had taken a bad fall and was feeling alone and vulnerable. Taking walks on snow and ice-covered surfaces felt threatening and anxiety-provoking. Where I once found relaxation and inspiration in my rambles through nature, I now felt guarded and uncomfortable. I started this canvas by painting the background and creating a snow effect through spattering. I used fiber paste to depict…
In the deep midwintershown a crystal bright.Snow and stars still glimmerin the dark of night. In challenging times, I find strength by recalling my resilience from past experiences. Sometimes, I leaf through my old journals for inspiration. Recently, I came across the little verse above. I had written it during the winter after my husband’s diagnosis. He had a very frightening reaction to chemo, requiring hospitalization and multiple interventions. In the aftermath, I found inspiration in the song ” A Christmas Carol ” by…
As we approach a new year, I look back on the past and forward to the promise of the future. I reflect on the life I once enjoyed with my husband, which is so different from the life I am now creating for myself. Yet, each has its unique challenges, joys, and direction. I found myself sorting through a collection of greeting cards I’d designed many years ago. This one, created circa 1988, spoke to me this year. I had…
As the holiday season begins, I am reminded of the importance of focusing on gratitude and the positivity that being thankful brings. Although this season sometimes reminds me of the things I no longer have, focusing on hope, optimism, and gratitude is an emotional antidote to the sadness of longing for the past. I created this piece years ago after my husband’s diagnosis. We found ourselves in a lush field of sunflowers under a blue summer sky. I felt fragile…
I designed this larger canvas some years ago after my husband’s cancer diagnosis. I drew inspiration from my original piece, “Believe,” which I had created at least 30 years earlier. If I were to assign a logo representing my life philosophy, the original “Believe” would be it. I published a post about the original piece in June 2024. It makes sense that I would turn to it for inspiration during such a difficult time. Finding a way to believe in hope, possibility, and…
The background of this canvas, painted in blotchy shades of blue, tells how I felt as I cut and stitched a heart from a grey felt. It was a day when I had to dig deep to believe in hope and possibility. My collection of colorful gems and crystals glittering from their storage jars on a shelf in my studio inspired me. This piece represented looking beyond the bleakness I felt to the treasure trove of inner peace and inspiration…
“True north is guidance, your orienting point, your fixed point in a spinning world that helps you stay on track. It’s your internal compass unique to you and only you, representing who you are at your deepest level. True north is a sense of being at home within yourself. What feels good to you at your core is your true north. When you find your true north, you discover your authentic self. It’s a combination of your purpose and your beliefs. You…
I’ve never readily embraced change. Admittedly, some changes are more difficult than others. Though I’d faced loss before, my husband’s death transformed my life in ways I never could have predicted. As a teacher, autumn meant gearing up for a new school year. No matter how long I taught, each year I approached the first day of school with anxiety and a touch of panic. And yet, by the time the first day was half over, I wondered what all…